Rivers Avenue Connectivity Plan

The BCDCOG, as sponsor of the study, engaged a multi-disciplinary team led by Stantec to examine redevelopment potential of the brownfield sites throughout the planning study area.

Following the public involvement framework used to develop the 2014 Neck Area Master Plan, the BCDCOG collaborated with a cross-section of community stakeholders to form a Planning Advisory Committee.  The Committee meet during key points of the study to provide feedback on activities and research findings.  Members that participated represented:

• City of North Charleston’s Office of the Mayor
• City of North Charleston Planning and Zoning
• Charleston County Planning and Zoning Department
• City of Charleston Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability
• Metanoia
• Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities

Community Involvement was a key objective of the Rivers Avenue Connectivity Study.  The Planning Advisory Committee reached out to residents of the study area to identify challenges they encounter in accessing goods and services along the corridor.  Participants were also asked to provide input on infrastructure and other needs for the community.

Topic-focused stakeholder meetings were held with various representatives of utility service and infrastructure providers; public safety and social services agencies; the real estate and development industry; economic development professionals; property owners and neighborhood representatives; and environmental justice and community groups.  While Stakeholders identified the pressure of rising housing costs as a threat to the community, they also noted that having affordable multi-story housing, access to fresh food, and available office and retail space were future opportunities.

An initial Project Introduction and Public Input meeting was held in April of 2019 at the Gussie Green community center to introduce project area residents to the study’s purpose and to the existence of brownfields and related issues. Attendees were asked to provide input on community priorities such as housing, recreation, modes of mobility, and community services.  Attendees also participated in a visual preference survey and identified what activities are needed within the corridor, as well as what things need to be minimized.

<insert picture of visual preference boards>

The general public and stakeholders were also invited to participate in a multi-day Community Design Charrette within the project area.  During the charrette attendees were given an opportunity to provide input on redevelopment concepts.  Key input received confirmed the observed lack of pedestrian connectivity and safety and need for new housing in the corridor. Conceptual drawings resulting from the charrettes are included in the plan to illustrate redevelopment recommendations.

The Rivers Avenue Connectivity Study spawns from a number of plans developed for this section of North Charleston, notably:

The Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC) Revitalization Plan (2010):  https://lamcnc.org

Partnership for Prosperity – Master Plan for the Neck Area of Charleston and North Charleston (2014): http://www.neckprosperity.org

Lowcountry Local First and Metanoia- Better Block Reynolds Avenue (2018): https://lowcountrylocalfirst.org/betterblock

The Rivers Avenue Connectivity study was also informed by an earlier 2019 study conducted by an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Advisory Panel.  The Panel was assembled to look at potential redevelopment scenarios for the former Navy Hospital site at the corner of Rivers and McMillan Avenues. https://southcarolina.uli.org/north-charleston-advisory-services-panel

A market study for the corridor was conducted by W-ZHA consultants to evaluate potential reuse demand and uses for identified brownfield sites along the corridor.  This study focused on assessing the potential for successful development of land uses that will promote living-wage jobs by improving and increasing employment centers, business needs and other basic services in the project area.  The study also the issue of rising housing costs and barriers to homeownership in the project area.  Read the complete market study here:

<insert link to market study>

It is estimated that over 100 brownfield sites exist in the project study area. Slightly less than half were evaluated during the study.  Five focus sites are evaluated more in detail in the final plan.

<insert photos of the focus sites>

Cleanup grants and loan funds are available to assist property owners seeking to redevelop any identified brownfield site.  EPA clean up grants can be applied for twice annually. The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control Brownfields Program makes available cleanup revolving loan funds to finance environmental cleanup and removal activities. 

Tab 7 Key Recommendations of the Plan

The Brownfields Area-wide Plan: Rivers Avenue Connectivity Study can be read in its entirety here <insert link to full document>.  Guiding principles in the Plan include:

• Allowing for a mix of land uses within the corridor and compact building design
• Creating a range of housing opportunities and choices for people of all income levels
• Creating a walkable community with safe accessibility to goods and services and transportation
• Fostering neighborhoods with a strong sense of place
• Preserving the open spaces, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas
• Directly new development into the existing community to enhance the tax base
• Providing a variety of transportation choices
• Reducing barriers to smart growth development practices; and
• Encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration in development decision making

<insert photos of housing type – cottages, mixed use commercial structures, and employment spaces>

Detailed illustrations of how these guiding principles can be achieved be adding new housing units, mixed use development, civic buildings and office space in several focus areas such as:

• Rivers and McMillan area
• Rivers and Cosgrove area
• Rivers and Reynolds Area
• Rivers and Carner Avenue area
• Accabee neighborhood

The key to achieving this vision for the Rivers Avenue Corridor is to develop the area holistically, not on a parcel-by-parcel basis to ensure broad connectivity, walkability, and vibrancy.